Shane - this is awesome. Thank you for doing this!
6/9 - Made some final imovies this last week - nice and easy! ipads are all reformatted and boxed up. It was quite an experience. One to one computing and internet access, all wireless. Crazy wild. I am glad I am living to see it, knock on wood!
5/29 - Teachers trying iPads: http://www.bgmsipad.blogspot.com/
5/16 - I can't believe it has been almost a month since I wrote here. Today, we visited EUSD for a look at their ipad/touch/ipod programs. What impressed was that they have an extreme focus on the standards/curriculum and they use the tech to access it. In other words, the ipads are integrated into the school day for use to address the curriculum of the district which, in turn, addressed the standards. The teachers and the whole school seem extraordinarily and appropriately focused on their goals. Good teaching, with an ipad integration.
Our use of the ipads in my class has continued unabated and today's visit to EUSD (Pioneer Elementary) reminded me of some things I had forgotten about: Edmodo and Google Forms. Also reminded myself about how to organize audio recordings in itunes ("a powerful database"). Chicktionary and other good apps were also on display.
4/22 Friday was an extraordinary ipad experience. 4th and 5th grade paired with their 1st grade buddies for Earth Day and toured the campus taking photos and videos of the native and garden plants around the school. The photos and videos were then used to make Keynote presentations about Earth Day at BV. The ipads were the tools used for photos, videos, presentation software, typing, and internet research, all in one! Pretty amazing. There was risk of accidents with the ipads as we moved about the campus. Perhaps too much risk, but the rewards were great, to my mind. Individual schools will have to decide if and when they have ipads in the classroom....
4/20
There is not much audio in the below video, and it was shot with an ipad.
4/15
Definitely, definitely need cases. I can't tell you how I know because it is classified, but the ipads are fairly durable. However, to have good access for kids means risk of bumps, drops, etc., and we need cases. :-)
4/14
I had a visit from the man himself, Rick Lewis, and then today Matt installed a new wireless access point nearer my classroom to make my network official and copacetic with the DO techs
4/13Tuesday and Wednesday, day 2 and 3, were the days we began to see the ipads as a tool which is always there, rather than a miracle of technology. Students still push to use them for gaming, which makes me think to remember to present as much ipad curriculum in game form as possible for kids. Wednesday's staff meeting session with the ipads was largely a disaster, too little time, too many people wanting to go home, and me skipping basic steps like how to turn it on and slide your finger to move between screens! Ouch! A note to Ms. Koopsen: Hi, Ashley,
I had a great day with the ipads! I wrote about it __here__. I went out and bought an apple wireless device that plugs into the wall in my classroom because I knew that, for me, the wireless mobile internet would be the main thing. So now I have a completely separate and powerful wireless connection in my class. I started right away with pairs of students doing “research” for poetry month using sites I already had set up in an online module in __BVOnline__. I kind of talked safety and rules as we went along. The students used “stack the states” and we really liked “airsketch” for writing on documents like testprep pdfs, which I had previously linked at my __Schoolloop__ (under “Starprep”). Airsketch saves the pdf pages with the kids writing as they go! So, conceivably, students can take a math test, showing their work, on the ipad and the email it to the teacher. Talk about paperless! I cannot tell you how cool the whole thing was.
I wanted the ipads to just be there at all times on the students desks and it worked out very nicely. There is always the chance of an accident like dropping or knocking an ipad, but I just try to keep activity calm and hope for good luck, I guess. Mobile connectivity is the way to go - simply awesome - and mine are 4th and 5th graders!!! The wireless I bought is called __Wireless Express__. I feel like I have been building all this online websites and stuff for just this day, when going online is easy and accessible, and now, the day is here! I still have 5 ipads to sync, etc, still not plugged in! At the tech wiki, I linked a product that will charge, sync all the ipads at once. I bought a powered usb hub, but it would not charge the ipads. Even with the hub, I still have to sync one at a time, I think, so that didn't help much. Right now, I plan to just charge with a couple of power bars.
Thanks for Writing and Keep in touch!
4/10
I bought a powered 7 port usb hub, but it does not charge the ipads. It does allow you to see each ipad that is connected in itunes. I have not seen how one could sync multiple ipads through the hub, though. I bought an apple airport doodad for wireless in my classroom. I have an ipad I use as my "master'' ipad. I add apps to it, then add them to itunes, then re-sync other ipads to itunes. Need multiport charging and syncing hub. Have seen it online.
Do we not need to set restrictions in settings on every ipad??? Then students won't be able to buy apps, etc. There is a passcode that needs to be entered in order to set up restrictions... each teacher would be creating their own...
For now the mobile version of Google Docs only supports the creation of text documents and spreadsheets. PowerPoint-style presentations, Web forms and drawings are supported by Desktop version.
4/11Day 1 in the age of mobile access is done in room 17. Student pairs had access to poetry unit online at their desks, on the carpet, researching and typing. Pairs, again, had access to test prep, both online interactive versions and printed pdf versions. Discovered: PDF version allowed for circling answers with fingers via Airsketch App. Students brought this to my attention.... App seems to save the work as well....Played "Stack the States." Began Mission and Colony/state reports; directions online, research sites online and ready to click, google docs ready to go.... My imagination of what would happen with ubiquitous ipad usage in the classroom was not far off the mark. Students working in pairs was a good teaching way to go, good for engagement, helping one another. There was some level of discontent as pairs broke down for research projects, when the assignment became more individualized. Still have 5 ipads to initialize! http://www.ipadcart.info/pdf/DS-IP-SYNCCharge.pdf Charging and syncing solution So, for the price of an ibook and an audiobook, we can have students read and listen to books on all the ipads. Audio can be projected from the front of the room, as well as individually, while students follow along. No need to buy class sets of books.... Hmmm, wonder how long that will last... might cost publishers... Need to buy earbuds. So, there is not a way to sync RESTRICTIONS on multiple ipads from itunes. Restrictions must be done one machine at a time. Below is an article about preparing for deployment; the set of 20 ipads is more of a challenge without a syncing and charging station; the wireless in my classroom is insufficient; and I wonder if our internet is robust enough for class sets of ipads even with the wireless carts... (are the blue wires a thick enough pipeline?!!!!) What does apple say?
:-)
SL http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing-your-school-for-an considerable ipad implementation considerations Moving from computer to computer, as I do, is a huge complication, as is having multiple ipads. I bought an app at home on one computer, installed it on an ipad. Then, went to another computer at school, bought another app with the same account, put it on yet another ipad, and want all the apps on all the ipads... Can bring the home ipad to school, upload apps from it into itunes at school computer for syncing. With these 20 ipads, we did not plan for charging and syncing... Here is info from Apple about charging ipads.
Do we not need to set restrictions in settings on every ipad??? Then students won't be able to buy apps, etc. There is a passcode that needs to be entered in order to set up restrictions... each teacher would be creating their own...For now the mobile version of Google Docs only supports the creation of text documents and spreadsheets. PowerPoint-style presentations, Web forms and drawings are supported by Desktop version.
6/9 - Made some final imovies this last week - nice and easy! ipads are all reformatted and boxed up. It was quite an experience. One to one computing and internet access, all wireless. Crazy wild. I am glad I am living to see it, knock on wood!
5/29 - Teachers trying iPads: http://www.bgmsipad.blogspot.com/
5/18 - http://mindshift.kqed.org/
5/16 - I can't believe it has been almost a month since I wrote here. Today, we visited EUSD for a look at their ipad/touch/ipod programs. What impressed was that they have an extreme focus on the standards/curriculum and they use the tech to access it. In other words, the ipads are integrated into the school day for use to address the curriculum of the district which, in turn, addressed the standards. The teachers and the whole school seem extraordinarily and appropriately focused on their goals. Good teaching, with an ipad integration.
Our use of the ipads in my class has continued unabated and today's visit to EUSD (Pioneer Elementary) reminded me of some things I had forgotten about: Edmodo and Google Forms. Also reminded myself about how to organize audio recordings in itunes ("a powerful database"). Chicktionary and other good apps were also on display.
4/22 Friday was an extraordinary ipad experience. 4th and 5th grade paired with their 1st grade buddies for Earth Day and toured the campus taking photos and videos of the native and garden plants around the school. The photos and videos were then used to make Keynote presentations about Earth Day at BV. The ipads were the tools used for photos, videos, presentation software, typing, and internet research, all in one! Pretty amazing. There was risk of accidents with the ipads as we moved about the campus. Perhaps too much risk, but the rewards were great, to my mind. Individual schools will have to decide if and when they have ipads in the classroom....
4/20
There is not much audio in the below video, and it was shot with an ipad.
Ipads Engaged
4/15
Definitely, definitely need cases. I can't tell you how I know because it is classified, but the ipads are fairly durable. However, to have good access for kids means risk of bumps, drops, etc., and we need cases. :-)
4/14
I had a visit from the man himself, Rick Lewis, and then today Matt installed a new wireless access point nearer my classroom to make my network official and copacetic with the DO techs
Apple's Education Resource Page
Escondido Union's App Spreadsheet:
4/13Tuesday and Wednesday, day 2 and 3, were the days we began to see the ipads as a tool which is always there, rather than a miracle of technology. Students still push to use them for gaming, which makes me think to remember to present as much ipad curriculum in game form as possible for kids. Wednesday's staff meeting session with the ipads was largely a disaster, too little time, too many people wanting to go home, and me skipping basic steps like how to turn it on and slide your finger to move between screens! Ouch!
A note to Ms. Koopsen:
Hi, Ashley,
I had a great day with the ipads! I wrote about it __here__. I went out and bought an apple wireless device that plugs into the wall in my classroom because I knew that, for me, the wireless mobile internet would be the main thing. So now I have a completely separate and powerful wireless connection in my class. I started right away with pairs of students doing “research” for poetry month using sites I already had set up in an online module in __BVOnline__. I kind of talked safety and rules as we went along. The students used “stack the states” and we really liked “airsketch” for writing on documents like testprep pdfs, which I had previously linked at my __Schoolloop__ (under “Starprep”). Airsketch saves the pdf pages with the kids writing as they go! So, conceivably, students can take a math test, showing their work, on the ipad and the email it to the teacher. Talk about paperless! I cannot tell you how cool the whole thing was.
I wanted the ipads to just be there at all times on the students desks and it worked out very nicely. There is always the chance of an accident like dropping or knocking an ipad, but I just try to keep activity calm and hope for good luck, I guess. Mobile connectivity is the way to go - simply awesome - and mine are 4th and 5th graders!!! The wireless I bought is called __Wireless Express__. I feel like I have been building all this online websites and stuff for just this day, when going online is easy and accessible, and now, the day is here! I still have 5 ipads to sync, etc, still not plugged in! At the tech wiki, I linked a product that will charge, sync all the ipads at once. I bought a powered usb hub, but it would not charge the ipads. Even with the hub, I still have to sync one at a time, I think, so that didn't help much. Right now, I plan to just charge with a couple of power bars.
Thanks for Writing and Keep in touch!
4/10
I bought a powered 7 port usb hub, but it does not charge the ipads. It does allow you to see each ipad that is connected in itunes. I have not seen how one could sync multiple ipads through the hub, though. I bought an apple airport doodad for wireless in my classroom. I have an ipad I use as my "master'' ipad. I add apps to it, then add them to itunes, then re-sync other ipads to itunes. Need multiport charging and syncing hub. Have seen it online.
Here is info from Apple about charging ipads.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060
Do we not need to set restrictions in settings on every ipad??? Then students won't be able to buy apps, etc. There is a passcode that needs to be entered in order to set up restrictions... each teacher would be creating their own...
For now the mobile version of Google Docs only supports the creation of text documents and spreadsheets. PowerPoint-style presentations, Web forms and drawings are supported by Desktop version.
4/11Day 1 in the age of mobile access is done in room 17. Student pairs had access to poetry unit online at their desks, on the carpet, researching and typing. Pairs, again, had access to test prep, both online interactive versions and printed pdf versions. Discovered: PDF version allowed for circling answers with fingers via Airsketch App. Students brought this to my attention.... App seems to save the work as well....Played "Stack the States." Began Mission and Colony/state reports; directions online, research sites online and ready to click, google docs ready to go.... My imagination of what would happen with ubiquitous ipad usage in the classroom was not far off the mark. Students working in pairs was a good teaching way to go, good for engagement, helping one another. There was some level of discontent as pairs broke down for research projects, when the assignment became more individualized. Still have 5 ipads to initialize!
http://www.ipadcart.info/pdf/DS-IP-SYNCCharge.pdf Charging and syncing solution
So, for the price of an ibook and an audiobook, we can have students read and listen to books on all the ipads. Audio can be projected from the front of the room, as well as individually, while students follow along. No need to buy class sets of books.... Hmmm, wonder how long that will last... might cost publishers...
Need to buy earbuds.
So, there is not a way to sync RESTRICTIONS on multiple ipads from itunes. Restrictions must be done one machine at a time.
Below is an article about preparing for deployment; the set of 20 ipads is more of a challenge without a syncing and charging station; the wireless in my classroom is insufficient; and I wonder if our internet is robust enough for class sets of ipads even with the wireless carts... (are the blue wires a thick enough pipeline?!!!!) What does apple say?
:-)
SL
http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing-your-school-for-an considerable ipad implementation considerations
Moving from computer to computer, as I do, is a huge complication, as is having multiple ipads. I bought an app at home on one computer, installed it on an ipad. Then, went to another computer at school, bought another app with the same account, put it on yet another ipad, and want all the apps on all the ipads... Can bring the home ipad to school, upload apps from it into itunes at school computer for syncing. With these 20 ipads, we did not plan for charging and syncing...
Here is info from Apple about charging ipads.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4060
Do we not need to set restrictions in settings on every ipad??? Then students won't be able to buy apps, etc. There is a passcode that needs to be entered in order to set up restrictions... each teacher would be creating their own...For now the mobile version of Google Docs only supports the creation of text documents and spreadsheets. PowerPoint-style presentations, Web forms and drawings are supported by Desktop version.